The patient told me from the start that she needed to get out of the hospital by Sunday afternoon for her marriage vow renewal at her church. After assessing her, I was quick to realize that could probably not happen. She said the same thing to her doctor that morning & he knew she could not leave the hospital after his assessment also. He gave us an order to "make it happen at the hospital."

Ameera called Paula & she set up the reservation for the Skyview room for Sunday at the same time it would have taken place at her church. The reason we did not think she could travel far was because she required a non-rebreather mask at 100% along with a nasal cannula at 10L at the same time. Her O2 sats dropped into the 60's with very little activity. She required Dilaudid 4mg IVP on a regular basis for the metastatic pain along with IVP Morphine for the air hunger.

The patient's friends had a bachelorette party in her room Saturday night & watched "Bridesmaids". On Sunday she was so excited. I got to talk with her on Sunday morning by myself with no one else in the room & I realized that she was giving all she had for this renewal party. She had started to lose the sight in her right eye that day. Her smile never wavered & will be what everyone will remember her for.

Courtney got her bathed & helped get her ready for the ceremony. Friends did her nails & got her dressed. Ameera tied her scarf beautifully as only she could do on her head. I gave her medication to make it easier on her to tolerate the pain & breathe easier. She did not really want to stay in her bed, but we all knew it would be too difficult for her. Ameera, Courtney, & Kathy asked her husband to join her on the bed. They pushed them to the Skyview Room as if it were a chariot. Carl RT helped with the setup of the O2. Ameera had to push her back down to her Room at one point when she had some difficulty, but she gave her some extra medication & pushed her back up for the rest of the renewal. Her husband's two children (under 10) were in the Skyview room waiting for them. It was unbelievable - the Skyview Room was packed with people spilling into the hall.

Ameera stayed with her the whole time to assist her. I believe between 10-12 oxygen tanks were used. When she got back to the room she was tired, but you could see how happy she was. Kathy has some beautiful pictures.

Twelve hours later the cancer took her life with her husband at the bedside. The physician who was her pulmonologist woke up that morning at 0600 wondering if the vow renewal had taken place & wanting to call us, but his pager went off with the notification of her death.

This event was truly a group effort from housekeeping, RT, Nursing, Nursing supervisor, family & friends. We all prayed that she would make it through this. This will be one of the episodes in my nursing career that I will remember forever. We accomplished something that was a dying patient's last wish. Her family was very complimentary about how this all came together on short notice of a holiday weekend.

The "Team Renewal" in the Oncology Unit consisted of:

Courtney Elkhatib, RN,
Kathy Smalley, RN,
Dr. Sirridge for Dr. Fieser,
Ameera Ali, RN,
Jay Thomason for Tracy Rogers,
Paula Cornelius, RN-Clinical Nurse Manager,
Lauren Schaeffer, RN,
Connie Green, RN Nurse Manager,
Carl Pace, RRT, Respiratory could not attend,
Judy Cleaveland, Environmental Services could not attend.

All staff who were not present were presented their certificate by the CNO, Sarah Fields.